The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Amateur Photographer Records the Extraordinary Image of a Weasel Riding on the Back of a Woodpecker The Pet Tree House - Where Pets Are Family Too : Amateur Photographer Records the Extraordinary Image of a Weasel Riding on the Back of a Woodpecker

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Amateur Photographer Records the Extraordinary Image of a Weasel Riding on the Back of a Woodpecker


Weasel on bird
An Amateur photographer, from Essex, has recorded the extraordinary image of a weasel riding on the back of a green woodpecker.

The photograph was taken by Martin Le-May, at Hornchurch Country Park in east London.

Speaking to BBC News, Mr. Le-May said that he managed to capture the moment while he was walking with his wife, Ann.

"I heard a distressed squawking noise, and feared the worst. I soon realized it was a woodpecker with some kind of small mammal on its back."

"I think we may have distracted the weasel, and when the woodpecker landed, it managed to escape." He said.

Mr. Le-May said he was astounded by the reaction to the picture on social media.

The wildlife shot has been re-tweeted several thousand times.

"I'm so proud that so many people are getting to see my image. I'm totally taken aback by the response to it." he said.

'Ferocious as a lion'

Wildlife expert Lucy Cooke told the BBC News Channel: "This is a truly extraordinary image."

"The green woodpecker is a ground-feeding bird, but weasels normally attack rabbits. The woodpecker is not its usual prey."

"But weasels are fearless. A female weasel weighs less than a Mars Bar but is as ferocious as a lion, so this is why the woodpecker would have been able to take off with it on its back." he said.

Wildlife presenter Steve Backshall agrees that while highly unusual it is not totally unheard of and has "no reason to doubt" the photo.

He compared the woodpecker to other animals like leaf cutter ants and rhino beetles, which can carry 850 times their body weight.

"The weasel is pretty fascinating as well. It can kill things much bigger than itself, so it's an impressive little creature when you think about its size." he said.


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